Deferred Reading of Email Database In Mobile Environments

ABSTRACT

Systems, methods, computer program product embodiments for deferred reading of email databases are described herein. An embodiment includes an event listener configured to poll (or query) the email server and selectively read an email database associated with the email server. Such a selective database read operation is based on the priority of an event occurring in the email server. If events of a low priority occur, the event listener does not open the email database immediately to retrieve additional information related to the low priority event but defers reading the email database by a pre-determined amount of time. If a higher priority event occurs, the email database is immediately read to retrieve details related to the high priority event from the mail server database. In another embodiment, event listener reads the email database based on when event timestamp information is updated by the email server.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This patent application is related to U.S. patent application Ser. No.______, filed on Apr. 29, 2009, Atty. Dkt. No. 1933.0840000, entitled“An Active/Push Notification Facade For a Passive Database System,” andto U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/104,905 filed on Apr. 17, 2008,entitled “Synchronizing Communications and Data Between Mobile Devicesand Servers,” both of which are incorporated by reference herein intheir entireties.

BACKGROUND

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to mobile communications and,more particularly, to polling email servers and reading data from emaildatabases.

2. Background Art

Mobile devices are in common usage, many featuring powerful processors,larger and more colorful displays, and wireless networking capabilities.Despite these advances in mobile technology, mobile devices typicallyhave greater limitations on memory capacity, data storage capacity,central processing unit (CPU) capacity, and networkability thanworkstation computers. These limitations require efficient use ofresources in a mobile environment.

Interaction using data sets exchanged between mobile devices and emailservers often occurs in the context of exchanges of email, calendarappointments, application data, business process tasks, and informationstored in email databases. Mobile devices need to frequently communicatewith email servers to retrieve emails and events related to the emailsfrom email databases.

Many email servers are passive and lack functionality to notify mobiledevices of events related to emails. When associated with such passiveservers, mobile devices have to frequently poll and read the emaildatabase to check if any events, such as arrival of new emails, haveoccurred. Constant reading of an email server's database to check emailand appointment information consumes valuable network resources.Furthermore, mobile devices use a substantial portion of CPU capacity toperform continuous polling and read operations.

Therefore, systems, methods and computer program products are neededthat overcome the limitations of existing email database readingtechniques and allow mobile devices to more efficiently retrieve emailsand other related events from email databases.

BRIEF SUMMARY

Briefly stated, the invention includes system, method, computer programproduct embodiments and combinations and sub-combinations thereof fordeferred reading of email databases.

An embodiment includes an event listener configured to poll (or query)the email server and read an email database associated with the emailserver.

The event listener selectively reads the email database based on thepriority of an event occurring in the email server. As an example, anoperation that includes opening of an email by a user on a mobile deviceor moving an email between two folders on a mobile device may becategorized as a low priority event. Events such as arrival of a newemail in the email server may be categorized as high priority events.

If events of a low priority occur, the event listener does not open theemail database immediately to retrieve additional information related tothe low priority event but defers its action of reading the emaildatabase by a pre-determined period of time. If a higher priority eventoccurs, the email database is more immediately opened to read detailsrelated to the high priority event from the email database. Therefore,event listener proceeds to read the email database after the lapse of apre-determined amount of time or the occurrence of a high priorityevent, whichever of these events occurs first.

In another embodiment, the email server is configured to updatetimestamp information for high priority events. When the event listenerdetermines that a timestamp has been updated, it also determines that ahigh priority event has occurred and proceeds to access the emaildatabase to retrieve information related to that high priority eventfrom the email database.

In this way, the email database is not read for each email relatedevent, thereby saving valuable computational resources. Furthermore, bydeferring reading of the email database, information related to multiplelow priority events can be retrieved by the event listener in a singleread operation instead of multiple read operations. Also, in anembodiment, the event listener needs only to check timestamp(s) in theemail server to determine occurrence of high priority events that wouldnecessitate reading of the email database.

Further embodiments, features, and advantages of the invention, as wellas the structure and operation of the various embodiments of theinvention are, described in detail below with reference to accompanyingdrawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS/FIGURES

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated herein and form partof the specification, illustrate embodiments of the present inventionand, together with the description, further serve to explain theprinciples of the invention and to enable a person skilled in therelevant art(s) to make and use the invention.

FIG. 1A illustrates a system for deferred polling of email databases,according to an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 1B illustrates an embodiment of an event listener and associatedmodules, according to an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2A is a flowchart illustrating an operation of an event listener,according to an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2B is a flowchart illustrating an operation of an event listener,according to another embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of a synchronizationserver, according to an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a plurality of queues in asynchronization server, according to an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 5 illustrates an example computer useful for implementingcomponents of embodiments of the invention.

The features and advantages of the present invention will become moreapparent from the detailed description set forth below when taken inconjunction with the drawings. In the drawings, like reference numbersgenerally indicate identical, functionally similar, and/or structurallysimilar elements. Generally, the drawing in which an element firstappears is indicated by the leftmost digit(s) in the correspondingreference number.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

While the present invention is described herein with reference toillustrative embodiments for particular applications, it should beunderstood that the invention is not limited thereto. Those skilled inthe art with access to the teachings provided herein will recognizeadditional modifications, applications, and embodiments within the scopethereof and additional fields in which the invention would be ofsignificant utility.

System

FIG. 1A illustrates an exemplary system 100 for deferred reading ofemail databases, according to an embodiment of the invention. (While thefollowing is described in terms of mobile environments and mobiledevices, the invention is not limited to this embodiment. The inventionis applicable to any system having generally the structure of FIG. 1A,or that would benefit from the function as described herein.)

System 100 includes mobile device 110, synchronization server 120, emailserver 130, event listener 140 and email database 150.

Mobile device 110 can include, but is not limited to, a device having aprocessor and memory for executing and storing instructions. Such amobile device may include software, firmware, and hardware or somecombination thereof. The software may include one or more applicationsand an operating system. The hardware can include, but is not limitedto, a processor, memory and user interface display. An optional inputdevice, such as a mouse, stylus or any other pointing device, may beused. In an embodiment, mobile device 110 includes a client applicationthat receives and displays emails and notifications to a user.

Mobile device 110 may be one of many devices commonly designated asmobile clients, such as, but not limited to, personal digital assistants(“PDAs”), devices operating according to the Microsoft Pocket PCspecification with the Microsoft Windows® CE operating system (OS),devices running the Symbian OS, devices running the Palm OS®, mobilephones, BlackBerry® devices, smart phones, hand held computers, palmtopcomputers, laptop computers, ultra-mobile PCs, and other wireless mobiledevices capable of running mobile applications.

Although FIG. 1A illustrates a single mobile device 110 for clarity, itis to be appreciated that system 100 is scalable and a plurality ofmobile devices can connect to synchronization server 120 and emailserver 130 via network 102.

Network 102 may include one or more networks, including but not limitedto, a local area network, medium-area network, and/or wide-area network,such as, the Internet. Network 102, for example, may be a wired orwireless network that allows mobile device 110, synchronization server120, and email server 130 to communicate with each other. Network 102can further support world-wide web protocols and services.

Mobile device 110 may receive current data on synchronization server 120via network 102. Mobile devices may upload their current data tosynchronization server 120 for any given application or set ofapplications. For example, a calendar application might allow otherusers to add or make changes to appointments which are then stored onsynchronization server 120. A user of mobile device 110 may also haveadded, deleted, or made changes to appointments within mobile device 110itself. Upon synchronization, synchronization server 120 learns of theappointments made, changed, or deleted on mobile device 110, and mobiledevice 110 learns of appointments made, changed, or deleted on server120. In accordance with an additional embodiment of the presentinvention, a partial synchronization is possible, whereby some subset ofappointments may be exchanged.

In accordance with an embodiment, data stored in email database 150 mayalso be synchronized with local data stores or databases residing onmobile device 110. “Data” as used herein may be any object, including,but not limited to, information in any form (text, video, audio,multimedia etc.) and applications.

Email server 130 facilitates the routing of email messages from one userto another via network 102. Email servers are well known to thoseskilled in the art. As an example, email server 130 may receive an emailfrom a user and forward that email to mobile device 110 usingsynchronization server 120. As an example, not intended to limit theinvention, email server 130 is an IBM LOTUS DOMINO email server. In anembodiment, email server 130 also maintains timestamp information forevents that occur in email server 130. Such events include, for example,email arrival and email read events.

Email server 150 is associated with email database 150 that stores aplurality of emails, including all metadata associated with the emails.Email database 150 may also store information related to appointments,tasks and a user calendar. Email database 150 may be located withinemail server 130, in other email servers independent from email server130 or even exist as an independent database. In an embodiment, emaildatabase 150 includes a plurality of mail boxes, with each mail boxassociated with a unique user.

Event Listener

Event listener 140 determines occurrences of events associated withemails, appointments or any other messaging data in email server 130.Although the following is described in terms of emails and email relatedevents, it is to be appreciated that any other form of information,including, but not limited to, appointments, tasks, contacts or journalsmay be used by embodiments of the invention.

As an example, not intended to limit the invention, event listener 140may be implemented as an add-in or a plug-in module for an IBM® LOTUSDOMINO email server. FIG. 1B illustrates an exemplary embodiment ofevent listener 140. As illustrated in FIG. 1B, event listener 140 isimplemented as an “OBListener” module. OBListener communicates (orpolls) with email server 130 and determines occurrences of eventsassociated with emails, appointments or any other messaging data inemail server 130, according to embodiments of the invention. Emaildatabase 150 may include a plurality of mailboxes 180A-N, eachassociated with a unique user and configured to receive and store useremails along with any metadata associated with those emails. Users 192and 194 may also communicate with email server 130 using computingdevices 190A and 190B (e.g. desktop computers) instead of using theirmobile devices to send emails, read emails, delete emails, createappointments and other such operations.

Event listener 140 selectively reads email database 150 based on thepriority of an event occurring in email server 130. As an example, anoperation that includes opening of an email by a user on mobile device110 or moving an email between two folders on mobile device 110 may becategorized as a low priority event. Events such as arrival of a newemail in email server 130 may be categorized as high priority events.Events can be categorized as low or high priority events according toany pre-defined criteria.

If events of a low priority occur, the event listener does not openemail database 150 immediately to retrieve additional informationrelated to the low priority event but defers its action of reading emaildatabase 150 by a pre-determined period of time. As an example such apre-determined amount of time may be configurable and set by anadministrator (e.g. user 150) of email server 130.

If a higher priority event occurs, email database 150 is immediatelyopened to read details related to the high priority event from emaildatabase 150. Therefore, event listener proceeds to read email database150 after the lapse of a pre-determined amount of time or the occurrenceof a high priority event, whichever of these events occurs first.

FIG. 2A is method 200, illustrating an operation of event listener 140,according to an embodiment of the invention.

In step 202, an event related to an email occurs in email server 130. Asan example, such an event can include an email arrival event or an emailread event.

In step 204, event listener 140 determines if the event that occurred instep 202 is a high priority event. As example, a high priority event caninclude an email arrival event. If event listener 140 determines that ahigh priority event has occurred (step 204), event listener 140 proceedsto read email database 150 associated with email server 130 to retrievedetails of the high priority event (step 206). Such details, forexample, include email content and email header information. At thistime, the event listener 140 also retrieves details of any deferred lowpriority events.

In step 208, event listener 140 proceeds to provide the event and datarelated to the event (e.g. content of an email) to synchronizationserver 120. Synchronization server 120 may place the event in a queuefor subsequent transfer to mobile device 110.

In step 210, event listener 140 stores the time at which email database150 was last read.

Returning to step 204, if event listener 140 determines that the eventwas not a high priority event, it does not read email database 150 andproceeds to check if a pre-determined amount of time has elapsed sinceemail database 150 was last checked (step 212).

If a pre-determined amount of time has elapsed (step 212), eventlistener 140 proceeds to read email database 150 (step 206). If apre-determined amount of time has not elapsed (step 212), event listener140 proceeds to wait and does not read email database 150 until thepre-determined amount of time elapses or until an event of high priorityoccurs at email server 130 (step 214).

In this way, event listener 140 allows one or more low priority events(e.g. read flag events and folder move events) to be read with highpriority events (e.g. arrival of a new mail) or after the lapse of apre-determined amount of time, whichever occurs first. Once emaildatabase 150 is read and the all events are queued up in synchronizationserver 120 for subsequent transfer to mobile device 110. By deferringthe read operation of low priority events, embodiments of the inventionsave significant processing resources.

In another embodiment, event listener 140 reads timestamp informationstored in email server 130. In an embodiment each email related event isassociated with its own timestamp.

In another embodiment, low priority events (e.g. email read events oremail folder move events) may not be associated with time stamps andhigh priority events (e.g. arrival of new emails) are associated withtime stamps. Therefore, if event listener 140 determines that a timestamp value has changed in email server 130, it determines that a highpriority event has occurred and event listener 140 immediately proceedsto read details related to the higher priority event from email database150.

If events of a lower priority occur, the event listener 140 does notopen the email database 150 immediately to retrieve additionalinformation related to the lower priority event but defers its action ofopening email database 150 by a pre-determined period of time.

As an illustrative example, if no high priority events occur (e.g. emailarrival events), event listener 140 does not read email database 150associated with email server 130. Event listener 140 is able todetermine an occurrence of a high priority event by an updated timestampin email server 130. During the time no high priority events areoccurring there may be one or more low priority events that occur. Suchlow priority events do not cause email server 130 to change or modifythe timestamp. Event listener 140 does not read email database 150 forsuch low priority events. However, event listener 140 proceeds to reademail database 150 after the lapse of a pre-determined amount of time orthe occurrence of an updated timestamp, whichever of these occurs first.

In this way, event listener 140 allows one or more low priority events(e.g. read flag events and folder move events) to be read with highpriority events (e.g. arrival of a new mail) or after the lapse of apre-determined amount of time, whichever occurs first. Once emaildatabase 150 is read and the all events are queued up in synchronizationserver 120 for subsequent transfer to mobile device 110. By deferringthe read operation of low priority events, embodiments of the inventionsave significant processing resources.

FIG. 2B is method 220 illustrating the operation of event listener 140according to the above described embodiment of the invention. In thefollowing embodiment, email server 130 is configured to store timestamps for high priority events. Therefore, as described below, eventlistener 140 reviews timestamp information of email server 130 toidentify high priority events.

Method 220 begins with event listener 140 polling email server 130'stimestamp information (step 222)

In step 224, event listener 140 determines if email server 130 hasupdated a timestamp. As described earlier, in this embodiment, emailserver 130 is configured to store timestamps for high priority events.If event listener 140 determines that a time stamp has been updated(step 224), event listener 140 thereby determines that a high priorityevent has occurred and immediately reads email database 150 associatedwith email server 130 to retrieve details of the high priority event(step 226). Such details, for example, include email content and emailheader information.

In step 228, event listener 140 stores the time at which email database150 was last read.

In step 230, event listener 140 proceeds to provide the event and anyrelated data to synchronization server 120. Synchronization server 120may place the event in a queue for subsequent transfer to mobile device110.

Returning to step 224, if event listener 140 determines that no timestamp has been updated, it does not read email database 150 and proceedsto check if a pre-determined amount of time has elapsed since emaildatabase 150 was last read (step 232).

If a pre-determined amount of time has elapsed (step 232), eventlistener 140 proceeds to read email database 150 (step 226). If apre-determined amount of time has not elapsed (step 232), event listener140 proceeds to wait and does not read email database 150 until thepre-determined amount of time elapses or until a time stamp is updatedby email server 130 (step 234).

In this way, event listener 140 needs only to check time stampinformation of email server 130. Checking for an update to timestampinformation in not a resource intensive operation and thus saves systemresources while preventing overloading of email server 130.

Synchronization Server

In an embodiment, synchronization server 120 routes communicationbetween email server 130 and mobile device 110. As an example,synchronization server 120 may relay email related events (e.g. movingof an email into a folder) to email server 130. Also, if a new emailmessage arrives at email server 130, event listener 140 forwards anotification of this event to synchronization server 120. In this way,event listener 140 acts as a notification facade for a passive emailserver 130 that does not provide notification of such events tosynchronization server 120. An exemplary notification facade isdescribed in detail in U.S. patent application Ser. No. ______, filedApr. 29, 2009, Atty. Dkt. No. 1933.0840000, entitled “An Active/PushNotification Facade For a Passive Database System,” which isincorporated by reference herein in its entirety. Message communicationbetween synchronization server 120 and mobile device 110 is described ingreater detail in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/104,905 filed onApr. 17, 2008, entitled “Synchronizing Communications and Data BetweenMobile Devices and Servers,” also incorporated by reference herein inits entirety.

FIG. 3 illustrates flowchart 300 describing an exemplary operation ofsynchronization server 120, according to an embodiment of the invention.

In step 302, synchronization server 120 receives an event notificationfrom event listener 140. As an example, such a notification may berelated to the arrival of a new email message at email server 130.

In step 304, synchronization server 120 places the notification of theevent in a synchronization queue. As an example, such a synchronizationqueue may include event notifications that were previously received fromevent listener 140.

In step 306, synchronization server 120 proceeds to transmit the eventnotification received in step 302 to mobile device 110. As an example,the event notification may be transmitted to mobile device 110 wheneverit is ‘online’ or connected to network 102. Furthermore, if mobiledevice 110 is ‘offline’ or disconnected from network 102,synchronization server 120 may wait to send the event notification tothe device till is online. Whenever mobile device 110 receives the eventnotification from synchronization server 120, an email clientinstantiated on mobile device 110 displays the event to a user.

In this way, synchronization server 120 communicates event notificationsbetween email server 130 and mobile device 110.

FIG. 4 illustrates a plurality of event (or message) queues 410A-410N insynchronization server 120. As illustrated in FIG. 4, embodiments of theinvention allow for a separate message queue for each user. In this way,embodiments of the invention allow events to be transmitted from emailserver 130 to mobile device 110 via synchronization server 120.

Example Computer Embodiment

In an embodiment of the present invention, the system and components ofembodiments described herein are implemented using well known computers,such as computer 502 shown in FIG. 5. For example, synchronizationserver 120 or email server 130 can be implemented using computer(s) 502.

The computer 502 can be any commercially available and well knowncomputer capable of performing the functions described herein, such ascomputers available from International Business Machines, Apple, Sun,HP, Dell, Compaq, Digital, Cray, etc.

The computer 502 includes one or more processors (also called centralprocessing units, or CPUs), such as a processor 506. The processor 506is connected to a communication bus 504.

The computer 502 also includes a main or primary memory 508, such asrandom access memory (RAM). The primary memory 508 has stored thereincontrol logic 528A (computer software), and data.

The computer 502 also includes one or more secondary storage devices510. The secondary storage devices 510 include, for example, a hard diskdrive 512 and/or a removable storage device or drive 514, as well asother types of storage devices, such as memory cards and memory sticks.The removable storage drive 514 represents a floppy disk drive, amagnetic tape drive, a compact disk drive, an optical storage device,tape backup, etc.

The removable storage drive 514 interacts with a removable storage unit516. The removable storage unit 516 includes a computer useable orreadable storage medium 524 having stored therein computer software 528B(control logic) and/or data. Removable storage unit 516 represents afloppy disk, magnetic tape, compact disk, DVD, optical storage disk, orany other computer data storage device. The removable storage drive 514reads from and/or writes to the removable storage unit 516 in a wellknown manner.

The computer 502 also includes input/output/display devices 522, such asmonitors, keyboards, pointing devices, etc.

The computer 502 further includes a communication or network interface518. The network interface 518 enables the computer 502 to communicatewith remote devices. For example, the network interface 518 allows thecomputer 502 to communicate over communication networks or mediums 524B(representing a form of a computer useable or readable medium), such asLANs, WANs, the Internet, etc. The network interface 518 may interfacewith remote sites or networks via wired or wireless connections.

Control logic 528C may be transmitted to and from the computer 502 viathe communication medium 524B. More particularly, the computer 502 mayreceive and transmit carrier waves (electromagnetic signals) modulatedwith control logic 530 via the communication medium 524B.

Any apparatus or manufacture comprising a computer useable or readablemedium having control logic (software) stored therein is referred toherein as a computer program product or program storage device. Thisincludes, but is not limited to, the computer 502, the main memory 508,secondary storage devices 510, the removable storage unit 516 and thecarrier waves modulated with control logic 530. Such computer programproducts, having control logic stored therein that, when executed by oneor more data processing devices, cause such data processing devices tooperate as described herein, represent embodiments of the invention.

The invention can work with software, hardware, and/or operating systemimplementations other than those described herein. Any software,hardware, and operating system implementations suitable for performingthe functions described herein can be used.

The Summary and Abstract sections may set forth one or more but not allexemplary embodiments of the present invention as contemplated by theinventor(s), and thus, are not intended to limit the present inventionand the appended claims in any way.

The present invention has been described above with the aid offunctional building blocks illustrating the implementation of specifiedfunctions and relationships thereof. The boundaries of these functionalbuilding blocks have been arbitrarily defined herein for the convenienceof the description. Alternate boundaries can be defined so long as thespecified functions and relationships thereof are appropriatelyperformed.

The foregoing description of the specific embodiments will so fullyreveal the general nature of the invention that others can, by applyingknowledge within the skill of the art, readily modify and/or adapt forvarious applications such specific embodiments, without undueexperimentation, without departing from the general concept of thepresent invention. Therefore, such adaptations and modifications areintended to be within the meaning and range of equivalents of thedisclosed embodiments, based on the teaching and guidance presentedherein. It is to be understood that the phraseology or terminologyherein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation, suchthat the terminology or phraseology of the present specification is tobe interpreted by the skilled artisan in light of the teachings andguidance.

The breadth and scope of the present invention should not be limited byany of the above-described exemplary embodiments, but should be definedonly in accordance with the following claims and their equivalents.

The claims in the instant application are different than those of theparent application or other related applications. The Applicanttherefore rescinds any disclaimer of claim scope made in the parentapplication or any predecessor application in relation to the instantapplication. The Examiner is therefore advised that any such previousdisclaimer and the cited references that it was made to avoid, may needto be revisited. Further, the Examiner is also reminded that anydisclaimer made in the instant application should not be read into oragainst the parent application.

1. A method for deferred reading of an email database, comprising: (a)determining an occurrence of an event in an email server; (b)determining priority of said event; (c) reading said email database,when said event is of a first priority; and (d) deferring reading ofsaid email database by a pre-determined amount of time, when said eventis of a second priority.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein step (a)comprises: determining if a timestamp associated with said event hasbeen updated by said email server.
 3. The method of claim 1, whereinstep (b) comprises: checking if said event is an email arrival event. 4.The method of claim 1, wherein step (c) comprises: reading email contentand metadata associated with said email content.
 5. The method of claim1, wherein step (d) comprises: deferring reading by a pre-determinedamount of time measured from a last stored read time of said emaildatabase.
 6. The method of claim 1, further comprising: storing a timeat which said email database is read.
 7. The method of claim 1, furthercomprising: transmitting said event to a synchronization server.
 8. Themethod of claim 1, further comprising: reading said second priorityevent to a synchronization server, when said pre-determined time haselapsed; and reading said second priority event with said first priorityevent to said synchronization server, when said first priority eventoccurs prior to expiration of said pre-determined amount of time.
 9. Amethod for deferred reading of an email database, comprising:determining if a timestamp has been updated by an email server; readingsaid email database, when said timestamp has been updated by said emailserver; and deferring reading of said email database by a pre-determinedamount of time, when said timestamp has not been updated by said emailserver.
 10. A system for deferred reading of an email database,comprising: an email server; and an event listener to determine anoccurrence of an event in said email server, wherein said event listenerreads said email database, when said event is of a first priority anddefers reading of said email database by a pre-determined amount oftime, when said event is of a second priority.
 11. The system of claim10, wherein said email server is configured to generate a timestamp forsaid event.
 12. The system of claim 10, wherein said email databasecomprises one or more mailboxes associated with one or more users. 13.The system of claim 10, further comprising a synchronization server. 14.The system of claim 13, wherein said synchronization server comprisesone or more event queues.
 15. The system of claim 14, wherein saidsynchronization server is configured to transmit said events in saidevent queue to a mobile device.
 16. (canceled)
 17. A computer programproduct having control logic stored therein, said control logic enablingone or more processors to defer reading of an email database accordingto a method, the method comprising: determining an occurrence of anevent in an email server; determining priority of said event; readingsaid email database, when said event is of a first priority; anddeferring reading of said email database by a pre-determined amount oftime, when said event is of a second priority.
 18. A method forconcurrent reading of events associated with an email database,comprising: (a) determining if a timestamp has been updated by an emailserver; (b) reading a first priority event from said email database,when said timestamp has been updated by said email server; and (c)concurrently reading one or more second priority events, if any, withsaid first priority event during step (b).
 19. The method of claim 18,further comprising providing data read in step (c) to a synchronizationserver.
 20. The method of claim 18, wherein said first priority eventincludes arrival of an email in said email server.
 21. The method ofclaim 18, wherein said second priority events include opening an emailon a mobile device associated with said email server.
 22. A computerprogram product having control logic stored therein, said control logicenabling one or more processors to concurrently read events associatedwith an email database according to a method, the method comprising: (a)determining if a timestamp has been updated by an email server; (b)reading a first priority event from said email database, when saidtimestamp has been updated by said email server; and (c) concurrentlyreading one or more second priority events, if any, with said firstpriority event during step (b).
 23. A computer program product havingcontrol logic stored therein, said control logic enabling one or moreprocessors to defer reading of an email database according to a method,the method comprising: determining if a timestamp has been updated by anemail server; reading said email database, when said timestamp has beenupdated by said email server; and deferring reading of said emaildatabase by a pre-determined amount of time, when said timestamp has notbeen updated by said email server.
 24. A system for deferred reading ofan email database, comprising: an event listener to determine if atimestamp has been updated by an email server and read said emaildatabase; and a deferring module to defer reading of said email databaseby a pre-determined amount of time.
 25. The method of claim 1, whereinsaid first priority is high priority, and said second priority is lowpriority.
 26. The system of claim 10, wherein said first priority ishigh priority, and said second priority is low priority.
 27. Thecomputer program product of claim 17, wherein said first priority ishigh priority, and said second priority is low priority.
 28. The methodof claim 18, wherein said first priority is high priority, and saidsecond priority is low priority.